210144 SE BAK9 Political Theories and Research on Theories (2023W)

Protest is part of democracy. The expression of dissatisfaction and dissent, even outside institutionally defined channels, is part of the democratic promise of self-government. But protest can take very different forms: From demonstrations and rallies to civil disobedience and direct action to active resistance and revolutionary aspirations. This seminar takes a look at the various forms and concepts of protest, systematizes them, and examines their bases of legitimacy. We will address questions such as: What distinguishes a demonstration from disobedience? What makes it civil and when does it become resistance? Is there a right to resist, moral or constitutional? Are prefigurative or abolitionist practices forms of protest or exit strategies? What is the fundamental role of dissent in democratic societies and how can massive disruptive actions be justified? In light of current protest movements, this course reflects on the relationship between protest and democracy in modern debates on political theory, covering texts by Étienne Balibar, Martin Luther King Jr., Comité invisible, Angela Davis, Deva Woodly, Çiğdem Çıdam und Erin Pineda, among others.

This is a seminar in political theory and the history of ideas. It is geared towards students, who are willing and motivated to engage with complex texts and discuss them in class. Moreover, they should be willing to read texts in english.

By the end of this seminar, students should be able to
1) discuss and explain different forms and concepts of protest;
2) articulate and deploy complex political concepts to analyze contemporary discussions in political theory;
3) critically assess the adequacy of core political concepts in light of contemporary and historical events;
4) defend and justify written and spoken arguments with strong textual evidence.